Understanding Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a disturbing trend that has been documented
around the world. Significant numbers of worker bees mysteriously disappear from
their hive, ultimately resulting in the death of the colony.

Beekeepers began reporting hive losses of anywhere form 30 to 90 percent of
their hives. Perfectly healthy and otherwise unremarkable hives and European
honey bee colonies were inexplicably emptied of worker bees. The hive doesn't
have dead worker bees, and often there are honey stores and immature bees, as
well as a queen, still present. Since then, CCD has been reported in North
America, Europe, and Asia. Current estimates in the U.S. suggest that roughly
one-third of all U.S. honey bee colonies have vanished.

There is no known definitive cause for CCD. Theories include: climate and
environmental changes, insecticides, natural bee parasites like Varroa mites,
and insect diseases and viruses. In September of 2007, USDA researchers
published a study based on comparing healthy bees with samples from bee colonies
affected with CCD, and found a high percentage of the CCD colonies were infected
with the Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), a virus that is often carried by
the Varroa mite. IAPV was found in 96.1% of the samples from CCD colonies. These
may all be contributing factors to stress-related immune deficiency as well.

CCD is important to all of us, whether or not we care about honey, because bees
are crucial for the pollination of plants. Fruiting crops and nut-bearing trees
in particular depend on bees for pollination. According to the United States
Department of Agriculture, about one mouthful in three in our diet benefits from
honey bee pollination. Bluntly put, there are a number of plants that will not
fruit without honey bee pollination. Almonds, apples, avocados, berries of all
sorts, broccoli, citrus fruits, carrots, cucumbers, grapes, onions, peaches,
peanuts, plums, pumpkins, and a variety of hay and field crops require bees for
pollination.

While the scientists and researchers attempt to determine the cause and a
solution to CCD, the rest of us can take simple steps to provide and look out
for honey bees. Be careful about what pesticides we use and when; avoiding their
use at midday when honey bees are out searching for nectar. Plant flowers that
are rich with nectar like red clover, bee balm, and foxglove. Don’t forget to
buy products from companies like
Häagen-Dazs
and
Burt’s Bees
who support research into CCD and work to heighten the public’s awareness
about the plight of the honey bee.